Knockdown Multi-Flue Cap

ABSTRACT

A knock-down multi flue chiming cap that has a collapsible cage and separate cap lid. When the cage is fully collapsed, the cage and lid can be easily and safely transported.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to chimneys and in particular, to chimney caps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chimney caps are commonly used on chimneys to prevent the ingress of rain, snow, birds, rodents, leaves and other foreign objects. They are further used to prevent down-drafts and to reduce the deterioration of mortar in the chimney. Multi-flue caps are used as a single chimney cover on multiple flu chimneys. These multiple flue chimneys typically contain two to five flues. Instead of covering each flue with a separate cap a multi-flue cap is used so that only one cap is required.

Multi-flue caps are typically fairly large making them expensive to ship, unwieldy to carry, and dangerous to hold while climbing a ladder. In response to these shortfalls, knockdown chimney caps were developed. Knockdown chimney caps have the ability to transport flat then be assembled to a three dimensional final form at the chimney flue.

Known knockdown chimney cap designs consist of one of two styles. The most common is for the multi-flue chimney cap to ship in 5 pieces consisting of four sides and a lid. The four separate sides bolt together to form a cage and then the lid is added before attachment to cover the chimney flue(s).

The second style ships in three pieces consisting of two cage sections and a lid. Each cage section consists of a side wall hinged to an end wall. The hinging allows the end wall to lay flat against the side wall for transport. Before attachment to the chimney each cage section must be transported to the chimney, expanded, fastened together, and locked to one another to form the cage. The lid is then added to the assembled cage.

Known knockdown chimney cap designs all require some job site assembly of the cage. Accordingly, there is still a continuing need for improved knockdown chimney cap cage designs. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides related advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The novel design of the present invention does not require any job site cage assembly. Once the folded cage is expanded only the lid has to be added. The fully assembled cage itself folds flat for transport.

The cage comprises side, end, and mounting portions hingably affixed to one another in a manner that allows the cage to fold flat for transport.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a partially collapsed cage.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially collapsed cage.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a partially collapsed cage.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a partially collapsed cage.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of FIG. 1, portion B.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a fully opened cage.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fully opened cage.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a fully opened cage.

FIG. 9 is an end view of a fully opened cage.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the center hinge.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a lid.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lid attached to the fully opened cage.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a lid attached to a fully opened cage.

FIG. 14 is an end view of a lid attached to a fully opened cage.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the lid attachment designated by B in FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a fully collapsed cage.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a fully collapsed cage with lid in transport position.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Where possible, like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts in the several figures described herein.

Turning now to the figures, FIGS. 1-5 depict a partially expanded cage 4 of the knockdown chimney cap 2 (FIG. 11). Cage 4 comprises a first 6 and second 8 side hingably attached to a first 10 and second 12 end, for example, through side hinges 14. First 10 and second 12 end each comprise a first 16 and second 18 articulating end section hingably attached to one another, for example, through center hinge 20.

First side 6, second side 8, first articulating end section 16 and second articulating end section 18 each are attached to a mounting strip 22 at their roof edge, preferably, hingably attached, for example, through mounting strip hinge 24. The cage 4 is attached to the roof using the mounting strip 22. Having the mounting strip 22 hingably attached allows the mounting strip 22 to be positioned either inside or outside the fully formed cage 4 to suit various job site demands. It also allows the mounting strip 22 to lie flat when the cage 4 is collapsed for transport.

A smoke permeable material 26, for example, screening, is attached at its roof edge to the mounting strip hinge 24 and at its lid edge to a cage rail 28. Each cage rail 28 preferably comprises a horizontal 30 and vertical 32 section. The cage rail sections 30, 32, preferably form about a ninety degree angle to one another. The cage rail 28 adds support to the fully expanded cage 4 and also provides a better cosmetic final product in that the smoke permeable material 26 is attached to the inside of the vertical cage rail section 32, thereby hiding the unfinished cut of the smoke permeable material 26.

Optionally, one articulating end section 16, 18 of each end 10, 12 has an extended cage rail section 34. Although the figures show the extended cage rail section 34 as a separate member fixedly attached to the main cage rail section 44, alternatively it may be an extension of a single, homogeneous cage rail 28.

Preferably, one cage end 10, 12 has its extended cage rail section 34 extending from its first end section 16 and its opposite cage end 10, 12 has its extended cage rail section 34 extending from its second end section 18 making them contralateral to one another. When the cage 4 is fully expanded, each extended cage rail section 34 stops and “locks” the two articulating end sections 16, 18 to form the cage ends 10, 12.

Turning to FIGS. 11-15, cap lid 36 is mounted to lid attachment members 38. Lid attachment members 38 may be, for example, bolts fixed to the side cage rails. Cap lid 36 has a corresponding receiving orifice 40 to receive the bolt, and is thereby affixed to the cage 4 using nut 42.

When a force is directed as shown by arrows B and C of FIG. 1, and A of FIG. 9, side hinges 14 and center hinges 20 allow the cage sides 6, 8 to collapse towards each other as the cage ends articulate. Mounting strip hinges 24 allow the mounting strip to pivot such that when fully collapsed, cage 4 is flat for shipping and job site transport. FIG. 16 shows a fully collapsed cage and FIG. 17 shows a fully collapsed cage with a lid in transport position.

Conversely, an opposite force expands the cage 4. Vertical cage rail section 34 of the two extended cage rail sections 34 create a positive stop for the expanding first and second articulating end sections 16, 18, thereby creating a generally planar single end, 10, 12.

FIGS. 6-8 depict a fully expanded cage 4.

Upon attachment of cap lid 36 to lid attachment member 38 a stable, structurally sound chimney cap 2 is formed, shown in FIG. 12.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of other variations and modifications within its scope. These examples and embodiments are intended as typical of, rather than in any way limiting on, the scope of the present invention as presented in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A chimney cap comprising: a collapsible cage comprising a first side section hingably attached at a first end to a first end of a first cage end section and at a second end to a first end of a second cage end section; a second side section hingably attached at a first end to a second end of the first cage end section and at a second end to a second end of the second cage end section; the first and second cage end sections each comprising a first articulating end section hingably attached to a second articulating end section; the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section each attached to a smoke permeable material; and at least one lid attachment member; wherein the first and second cage end first and second articulating end sections hingably articulate to allow the first and second side sections to collapse towards each other; and; a cap lid mounted to the at least one lid attachment member.
 2. The chimney cap of claim 1 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section are each attached to a mounting strip.
 3. The chimney cap of claim 2 wherein the mounting strip is hingably attached.
 4. The chimney cap of claim 1 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section each further comprise a cage rail section.
 5. The chimney cap of claim 1 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section are each hingably attached to a mounting strip at a roof edge and each further comprises a cage rail section at a cap lid edge.
 6. The chimney cap of claim 5 wherein each cage rail comprises a horizontal and a vertical section, the smoke permeable material attached to an inside of the cage rail vertical section.
 7. The chimney cap of claim 5 wherein the first and second articulating end sections further comprise a stop.
 8. The chimney cap of claim 7 wherein the stop comprises an extended cage rail section on at least one of the first cage end articulating end sections and one of the second cage end articulating end sections.
 9. The chimney cap of claim 7 wherein the stop comprises an extended cage rail section on one of the first cage end articulating end sections and an extended cage rail section on one of the second cage end articulating end sections.
 10. The chimney cap of claim 9 wherein the two extended cage rail sections are contralateral to one another.
 11. A chimney cap cage comprising: a first side section hingably attached at a first end to a first end of a first cage end section and at a second end to a first end of a second cage end section; a second side section hingably attached at a first end to a second end of the first cage end section and at a second end to a second end of the second cage end section; the first and second cage end sections each comprising a first articulating end section hingably attached to a second articulating end section; the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section each attached to a smoke permeable material; and at least one lid attachment member; wherein the first and second cage end first and second articulating end sections hingably articulate to allow the first and second side sections to collapse towards each other.
 12. The chimney cap cage of claim 11 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section are each attached to a mounting strip.
 13. The chimney cap cage of claim 12 wherein the mounting strip is hingably attached.
 14. The chimney cap cage of claim 11 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section each further comprise a cage rail section.
 15. The chimney cap cage of claim 11 wherein the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section are each hingably attached to a mounting strip at a roof edge and each further comprises a cage rail section at a cap lid edge.
 16. The chimney cap cage of claim 15 wherein each cage rail comprises a horizontal and a vertical section, the smoke permeable material attached to an inside of the cage rail vertical section.
 17. The chimney cap cage of claim 15 wherein the first and second articulating end sections further comprise a stop.
 18. The chimney cap cage of claim 17 wherein the stop comprises an extended cage rail section on at least one of the first cage end articulating end sections and one of the second cage end articulating end sections.
 19. The chimney cap cage of claim 17 wherein the stop comprises an extended cage rail section on one of the first cage end articulating end sections and an extended cage rail section on one of the second cage end articulating end sections.
 20. The chimney cap of claim 19 wherein the two extended cage rail sections are contralateral to one another.
 21. A chimney cap comprising: a collapsible cage comprising a first side section hingably attached at a first end to a first end of a first cage end section and at a second end to a first end of a second cage end section; a second side section hingably attached at a first end to a second end of the first cage end section and at a second end to a second end of the second cage end section; the first and second cage end sections each comprising a first articulating end section hingably attached to a second articulating end section; the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section each attached to a smoke permeable material; and at least one lid attachment member; wherein the first and second cage end first and second articulating end sections hingably articulate to allow the first and second side sections to collapse towards each other; the first side section, second side section, first cage end first articulating end section, first cage end second articulating end section, second cage end first articulating end section and second cage end second articulating end section are each hingably attached to a mounting strip at a roof edge and each further comprises a cage rail section at a cap lid edge; each cage rail comprises a horizontal and a vertical section, the smoke permeable material attached to an inside of the cage rail vertical section; and, the first and second articulating end sections further comprise a stop comprising an extended cage rail section on one of the first cage end articulating end sections and an extended cage rail section on a contralateral second cage end articulating end sections; and; a cap lid mounted to the at least one lid attachment member 